Government Watch - 2

labourlist.org/2017/08/train-overcrowding-hits-record-levels/

The government obviously is not bothered that it only has a small majority in the commons.

labourlist.org/2017/07/tory-obsession-with-rail-privatisation-risks-passenger-safety-cortes-says/

Still wants to privatise the railways, with the taxpayer bearing the cost and paying profits to shareholders.

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jul/28/nhs-accused-of-shrouding-500m-of-planned-cuts-in-secrecy

"A spokesperson for NHS Improvement said: “We are committed to openness and work hard to engage with the public and stakeholders on a wide range of work done to support the NHS.” "

So who do you believe?

Not sure if I've seen this anywhere other than on this website.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/calls-to-halt-roll-out-of-uc/

IDS's changes have caused a real problem with those on Universal Credit.

Then if it is true about the brutal NHS cuts someone needs to be the whistle blower. We the tax payer are entitled to know.

www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jul/30/tory-mp-and-former-minister-speaks-out-against-tax-increases

Another one trying to get in on it. Is this why Hammond has changed his mind, because he needs to keep backbenchers onside?

" Doctors have warned that plans for “brutal” NHS cuts are shrouded in secrecy and will cause uproar once revealed.

The British Medical Association (BMA) says health service leaders have refused to publish details of the proposals that could extend waiting times, reduce access to services, cut down on prescriptions and treatments, and even merge or close hospitals and facilities.

The proposals are being discussed under the capped expenditure process, which was introduced this year to cap NHS spending in some areas in order to meet so-called “control total” budgets in 2017-18.

The BMA submitted Freedom of Information requests to NHS Improvement and each of the 13 areas, asking for the proposal documents.

Eight of the 13 areas responded but, according to the BMA, none of them provided the full document or any significant details."

Is this why Hunt has resurfaced?

Good for you Ginny and good advice about house insurance; I never knew that.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/30/boris-johnson-vince-cable-trade-barbs-resignation-rumours

Johnson says he is not going to resign and has called Cable a liar.
Johnson said he was going to vote remain.
Johnson said he was going to stand for PM.

Do we believe what Johnson says?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/30/tensions-flare-in-cabinet-over-post-brexit-free-movement

Can anyone fill me in on the rumour that Johnson is/is not going to resign?

Pleased for you, Ginny.
Quite a few people who have lost their jobs unfairly try crowdfunding to be able to pay for tribunals. I am pleased they will not have to any more.

Hope this comes true. From Richard Murphy on taxresearch.

"I suspect this fragile consensus will hold as yet desire the massive political in-fighting that is now apparent. The question is how long ‘as yet’ implies. My own instinct is it means until October. To put it another way, that means Tory party conference. However well stage managed this exercise in lauding the duly chosen ‘dear leader’ usually is I cannot see that veneer surviving the pressure this year. The Tory party fringe is going to be riven with open hostility. It is hard to see how that can be prevented from spilling over into public dissent. And from where the support for May will come in all this is very hard to imagine. It is very obviously absent already. In that case it will take quite extraordinarily thick skin for May to survive this.

It may also take ability beyond even the Tory instinct for power to keep the party intact as well. The Brexit hard line and Hammond pragmatic dealers seem so far apart that the chance of reconciliation appears remote in the extreme. If May cannot hold them together, whether she’s herself a lame duck or not, leaves the prospect of unity around any other candidate very hard to imagine. Cameron’s ultimate failure would be a split Tory party, something not known in modern history but for which the Corn Laws provide resonant precedent. I am not, of course, sure it will happen. But I certainly think it possible. And with it the government would fall."

ginny the good thing is that it turned out alright in the end. The trouble is that it doesn't happen to everyone, which must be shattering, especially if you are like my dil, who is extremely competent, reliable, hard working and someone who is highly rated by Ofsted then the whole experience is appalling. I am unclear how people like her ex-employer can live with themselves.

I read that Hammond has drawn back from the Tories unpleasant little plan of making the UK a low tax, low regulatory, low welfare economy.

That won't please a lot of greedy Tories will it?

I was unfairly and unlawfully dismissed and I won compensation from the employer. It was paid for by my house insurance which had the legal representation clause. In my case £50,000. I had paid house insurance for donkey's years and never claimed for anything, but it was the best advice I ever had from a solicitor who told me to check it. It paid for a solicitor and a barrister. If you know anyone in the situation of being unfairly dismissed advise them to check their house insurance.

In my case the employer was entirely in the wrong and it was proven in the tribunal. However the price I paid for my loss of professional confidence was great. It took me a long time and a lot of counselling to overcome the 'shame' of being sacked. Evidence showed I didn't deserve it but it eats away at your self confidence. Happily I returned to a better job in a far higher position some time later and have entirely banished the vampires of unfair dismissal.

Been reading a lot about Trump recently to catch up with what is going on in the USA. It occurs to me and I fervently hope that Fox and May are no too stupid to understand that Trumps word means absolutely nothing at all.

Wouldnt hold your breath though

Left and right hand continuing to ignore each other.

Hammond say transitional arrangement is certain

Fox says transition not needed or likely.

Good oh - nice to know the governments got its act together.

This apparently is the last week for nursing nurseries. The application for nursing posts has dropped by 96%. Sheer bleeding madness.

I said "but there is no way they can recompense all those who lost jobs unfairly, or who suffered harassment etc, but just had to take it and go"

Gillybob said@ Because the employee is always right isn't he/she? yggdrasil?
What would you suggest they do to make recompense?

I think you should read what I said again. I said those who lost their jobs unfairly, like whitewave's dil. And there is no way to recompense them, they have lost jobs, money and confidence. All because they couldn't afford the illegal charge.

Listened to Gove this morning. And a couple of things struck me.

We may well be the last generation to live entirely with combustion engine.

And at last something to be done

However listening to all the comments today it appears that the commentators seem to think Gove was grandstanding and as someone said " if you don't have the skills, if you don't have the infrastructure, if you don't have the wherewithall to pay for it then as a statement or policy it's absurd."

I think it is both a benefit avoidance scheme and a make the employer pay no matter what scheme Maizie

When someone is sacked (not that I have ever sacked anyone, I am far too soft for that) the benefits agencies encourage that person to go to tribunal.

Why do they do that, gillybob? Is it something to do with targets for keeping people off benefits?

My dil was one of those. She was bullied from her job ending with a complete breakdown. After 6 months recovery she found another job and has recently received an absolutely glowing report from ofsted. This has helped rebuild her confidence which was totally shattered by her experience. Her new employer is splendid and clearly appreciates her marvellous abilities.

My dil was advised that it would be costly to persue her bullying ex employer through the courts, and quite honestly was in no fit state to do so.

but there is no way they can recompense all those who lost jobs unfairly, or who suffered harassment etc, but just had to take it and go

Because the employee is always right isn't he/she? yggdrasil?

What would you suggest they do to make recompense?

I think the drop in people going to tribunals was about 80%. And the % of frivolous claims did not drop. It was an iniquitous law that made people pay up to several thousands of pounds just to try to get justice, and most people, especially women, just couldn't afford it.
It is good they are repaying the money to those who paid it, but there is no way they can recompense all those who lost jobs unfairly, or who suffered harassment etc, but just had to take it and go.